“And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn” (Luke 2:7 ESV).

This time of year there are Christmas songs playing on the radio and carolers going about. A few years ago on the school bus, I drove as the children would sang Christmas songs also. One song was, “Away in a Manger.” That brought back memories of learning this song in Bible class when I was small. I’m not sure if it was sung around this time of year or not but it is a wonderful song. 

If it wasn’t for Jesus being born then who would be the one to die for our sins? God gave his only begotten Son (John 3:16) so he could die for us on the cross.

The mother of Jesus was Mary, another very important person in this event. She was chosen by God and was visited by the angel Gabriel who told her she was going to have a son. 

The scriptures tell us Jesus was laid in a manger because there was no place in the inn. Inn also means a lodging place. We do not know where he was born. It could have been the lower quarters of a dwelling or a stable. The place of his birth is not important.

The main significance was the manger. An angel of the Lord appeared to Shepherds who were tending sheep saying,

“And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger” (Luke 2:12).

Swaddling clothes were not the main significance. 

The sign was the manger, a feeding trough where animals eat from. “And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger” (Luke 2:16). God took the lowliest manner of life to lay his Son’s head on, a manger, an animal feeding trough. He the Son of God, the King of kings did not lay in a crib like royalty.

As soon as the angel told the Shepherds the heavens opened up with praise,

“Suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest!” (Luke 2:13–14).

What a glorious time, Christ the Savior humbled himself from Manger to Cross.

Hymn: Away in a Manger

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